The Last Sky Of The Earth 【Filipino】

1.1 - Decision

Remain as a memory that's enough for me... -- U, Baekhyun (EXO)

xxxxxx

ONE NIGHT.

One night was all it took to change everything.

One night gave way for one girl to feel an immeasurable pain.

On that one night, everything that she had to protect disappeared.

Nanatili ang katotohanang iyon sa isipan ni Kourin after all that had happened. She was naïve back then. She was a carefree teenage girl. She enjoyed all the privilege to become a normal girl even though it wasn't actually the life meant for her. In other words, tinamasa niya ang buhay ng pagiging isang prinsesa.

But Kourin never realized that the privilege she received for possessing such freedom would come with a price. It was a terrifying price that took the lives of the people she cared about, trampled the loyalty of those who remained by her side, and trashed the honor that her clan had protected and upheld for so long. Hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon, hindi siya sigurado kung ano nga ba ang nangyari, kung panaginip pa rin ba ang lahat.

Kourin's tears fell as she recalled that night. Ang mga luhang iyon ang patunay na hindi na panaginip ang lahat. She was sitting in the prayer room where another proof of the truth that opened her eyes to the harsh reality of the world lies. She had a lot of question, but none of them had any answers until now. Walang makapagbigay sa kanya ng sagot na kailangang-kailangan niya.

"Lady Kourin..."

Kourin turned in the direction of that voice. She saw two people slide open the prayer room's shoji door. A man and a woman—both were a few years older than her—had entered.

"Kana-san... Takeru-san..."

Both of them sat behind Kourin a few feet away from where she was sitting. Kana was sitting in a seiza-style while Takeru in an Indian position. Halata sa mga ito na tila tinatantiya muna ang pagkakataon bago magsalita.

"Everything's ready. All that's left is your order and we'll proceed with the plan," ani Kana.

But as for Kourin, there she was, still facing the altar where the framed pictures and urns of those that she had lost were placed. Her mother, her father... and even her older brother Hitoshi. In a blink of an eye, she had lost those three in her life. Nawala ang mga ito sa kanya sa isang labang hindi niya inakalang kahaharapin niya sa buong buhay niya.

"Are you sure about your decisions?" Kourin asked them out of the blue.

Kourin didn't hear any reply from them. But it wasn't a problem for her. After all, her decision wasn't something she came up with easily after the events. Almost all of those who heard it, even Kana and Takeru, had a reluctant expression on their faces. Pero iyon lang ang naisip niyang paraan hanggang hindi natatapos nang tuluyan ang misyon nilang lahat.

Kourin already made a choice ー and she needed to stand firm to it. She hadn't only thought about her welfare here when she decided that. She also thought about the others ー the remaining ones who still showed their loyalty to her despite everything. Simple gratitude wasn't enough because of the loyalty they had shown towards her and her family.

"We already made our decision, my lady. Nothing could ever change that," Kourin heard Takeru answer.

"So don't ever doubt us again. We'll continue serving you and protecting you in every way possible," Kana added.

Kourin's tears fell once more. She didn't know what to say in response to what they had told her. Hindi na niya itinago ang mga luhang iyon dahil sa galak at labis na pasasalamat. But she knew they were telling the truth. At the very least, she trusted her instinct on that one.

With a smile as Kourin wiped her tears, she stood up. Kana and Takeru followed soon after. She faced those two once more after giving one last look at her family's pictures. Ang mga litratong iyon ang huling katibayan na minsang naging buhay sa piling niya ang mga ito.

"We'll proceed. Let's go."

That was all and Kourin went out of that room, along with Kana and Takeru.

xxxxxxx

OUTSIDE of Izumi Temple where Kourin stood at the moment, she saw everyone involved there. She knew they were waiting for her.

"It's time."

All of them, including the other monks working in that temple, kneeled on one knee as they bowed their heads in front of Kourin. Was it weird for her to be treated like this? No. They did that because of one reason.

Kourin was chosen to be their leader. Well, soon-to-be and the next in line. The heiress to the position, to put it simply.

For a girl like Kourin, the responsibility she had to bear was immense. Nakasalalay na sa mga kamay niya ang responsibilidad na muling ibangon ang karangalan ng kanyang angkan. But like she said, she already made a choice. She chose to carry the burden as the princess of the Shinomiya clan. She knew she had just come-of-age a year ago. Sa pamilya nila at maging sa tatlo pang angkan na pinagsisilbihan ang pamilya niya, 14 years old ang coming-of-age. Maagang ipinapasa sa kanila ang posisyong nakatakda nilang manahin at sa loob ng tatlo pang taon ay sasanayin sila para magawa nila nang maayos ang responsibilidad na ipinasa sa kanila. So by the time that they'd reach the age of 17 kung saan magaganap ang succession ceremony, magiging handa na sila. But it doesn't matter.

What was important for Kourin at the moment was to do everything right. She had to carry out the responsibility of being the next leader of the clan. Not just her clan. She also had to lead even the three other clans.

Carrying out an immense duty such as this was the only way for Kourin to continue her dead father's legacy. Sa ganoong paraan man lang, magawa na rin niyang tapusin ang isang labang hindi niya akalaing walang habas na tatapos sa lahat ng pinaghirapan ng mga taong nasa paligid niya sa nakalipas na mga taon.

"My lady, we're all ready to leave."

Kourin nodded as a response to what the monk had said. She faced the others soon after. She could've laughed at the sight. Just by looking at them at that moment, she could see that they were determined and unbelievably stubborn as she was. Mukhang namamana nga talaga ang katigasan ng ulo. Iyon ang nasa isipan niya nang mga sandaling iyon.

Starting from that day, Kourin won't only leave Kyoto. Along with the path she had chosen, she chose to kill a certain someone.

Weird as it might have sounded, she had to kill Kourin Shinomiya for good. She had to destroy her existence as the Shinomiya family princess.

This was the only way for another persona in her to be born. A persona with a life Kourin had to live from now on. A persona that, hopefully, would help her protect what was left of her since that night.

A persona... that Kourin now named Rin Fujioka.